The death of a Fort Stewart soldier in Iraq Friday is under investigation, the Department of Defense said Saturday.
Spc. Mary J. Jaenichen, 20, died of a non-combat related injury May 9 in Iskandariyah, Iraq.
The Temecula, Calif., native was an MP on her first deployment with the 3rd Infantry Division's Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. She joined the Army in June 2006 and arrived at Fort Stewart in January 2007, Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said.
Because the circumstances surrounding Jaenichen's death are currently being investigated, the DoD declined to release further details about the soldier or her death.
The young soldier's family has not made any public remarks about her death, but California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he and his family "were deeply saddened to learn of the loss."
"She devoted her life to serving our country with courage, pride and honor," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary's family and friends as they mourn the passing of this brave and dedicated patriot."
The governor ordered that flags at the state Capitol in Sacramento flown at half-staff.
A May 12 DoD casualty report shows 4,077 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, including 753 soldiers who died from "non-hostile" related incidents.
Jaenichen is the 97th woman to die in the war, according to icasualties.org, an independent research group tracking U.S. troop deaths in Iraq.
Spc. Mary J. Jaenichen, 20, died of a non-combat related injury May 9 in Iskandariyah, Iraq.
The Temecula, Calif., native was an MP on her first deployment with the 3rd Infantry Division's Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. She joined the Army in June 2006 and arrived at Fort Stewart in January 2007, Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said.
Because the circumstances surrounding Jaenichen's death are currently being investigated, the DoD declined to release further details about the soldier or her death.
The young soldier's family has not made any public remarks about her death, but California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he and his family "were deeply saddened to learn of the loss."
"She devoted her life to serving our country with courage, pride and honor," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary's family and friends as they mourn the passing of this brave and dedicated patriot."
The governor ordered that flags at the state Capitol in Sacramento flown at half-staff.
A May 12 DoD casualty report shows 4,077 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, including 753 soldiers who died from "non-hostile" related incidents.
Jaenichen is the 97th woman to die in the war, according to icasualties.org, an independent research group tracking U.S. troop deaths in Iraq.
